Kotohiki Hachiman-gū, Shinto shrine in Japan
Kotohiki Hachiman-gū is a small Shinto shrine in Kanonji, Kagawa, situated atop a hill and featuring traditional East Asian architecture with curved roofs. The shrine comprises simple wooden structures with neat grounds and is surrounded by trees that create a peaceful setting.
The shrine was founded in the year 703, making it one of the oldest in the region with deep roots in early Japan. Over the centuries, it became associated with warriors, particularly after the famous samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune prayed here for victory.
The shrine honors Hachiman, a deity revered across Japan as a protector of warriors and the nation. Visitors can observe traditional cleansing rituals where people rinse their hands and mouth at stone basins before offering prayers.
The shrine is easily accessible by car and offers free parking nearby, roughly five minutes from Kanonji station. Reaching the main shrine requires climbing about 380 stone steps, which offer nice views of the surroundings along the way.
Local legend tells that the god Hachiman appeared to a monk named Nisshō Shōnin in the eighth century while he played the koto, a traditional stringed instrument, on a boat. This story is documented in old records protected as cultural heritage by the city.
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